Amusement device



Jan. 22, 1963 F. FISCHL-BERNFI'ETAL 3,074,206

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Nov. 20, 1959 INVENTOR5 6 a m 6% m if m a Zr w 2 fir 5 J\ United States Patent 3,074,206 AMUSEMENT DEVICE Franz Fischl-Bemfi and Brit Fischl-Bernfi, Seeparkhaus Tutzing, Germany Filed Nov. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 854,393 Claims. (*Cl. 46241) The present invention relates to an improved amusement device and particularly to a device adapted to be held by the fingers and which, when manipulated with some measure of dexterity and skill, provides an interesting and diverting amusement device.

More specifically the object of the present invention is to provide a number of components which are adapted to be assembled in various ways to provide a range of different amusement articles while a further object of the invention is to provide a device of simple construction comprising a number of component parts, some of which are capable of forming a closed container for the remainder of the parts. A still further object is to arrange the device in such a way that a plurality of like devices can be joined to form a composite assembly of enhanced interest or amusement value.

In accordance with the present invention an amusement device is provided comprising a set of parts including a pair of disc-like members, spacer means adapted to hold said disc-like members in spaced relation and a traveler movable over the outer surfaces of both said disc-like members when held in spaced-apart relation, and retained against said surfaces by magnetic action while the device is in use so that it is adapted to roll in one or both directions around the outer periphery of the spaced discs as they are rotated by the fingers, the disclike members being adapted to form an outer casing enclosing the component parts of the device when out of use.

The device permits a variety of effects to be obtained; the traveler can be caused to roll backwards and forwards or by a steady rotation of the device to remain fixed at one point or it may rise to the highest point of the disc and then travel downwardly from that point, all under the manipulative control of the user.

According to a further feature of the invention the disc-like members are of dished formation and the two of them are adapted to form a closed casing housing the various parts of the device when out of use. The traveler may be in the nature of a wheel having a permanent magnet as the axle. Conveniently it may have central opposed projecting cylindrical stem portions or stub shafts adapted to be engaged in central bosses in the two disc members, these parts serving to hold the two disc members in edge contact one with the other when the device is out of use and to form a connection between them thus providing a closed container, and the annular space surrounding the wheel may then serve to accommodate other components, such as one or more spacer tubes adapted to hold the disc members in spaced relation when in use.

The spacer tubes may be centrally bored to accommodate a pin which projects externally of the discs and provides a means whereby the device may be held in the fingers. This pin may also be accommodated in the annular space. A pin of this type may serve for the interconnection of two similar devices which are thus coupled one beside the other, providing an amusement device of enhanced interest value and skill factor in that the user is called upon to control simultaneously two wheels or like freely moving elements held against the respective pairs of discs by magnetic action.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims:

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a complete toy unit in closed position.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the toy illustrated in FIGURE 1 with the upper disc removed to show the component parts between the discs.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view through the closed toy on a reduced scale.

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view through the toy when arranged for use as a spinning top.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of certain of the component parts when assembled for use as a toy generally known as a Yo-Yo.

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view through certain of the component parts when used as a magnetic wheel toy.

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional view of two sets of component parts assembled to form a double wheel toy.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the double wheel toy illustrated in FIGURE 7.

The toy is indicated in general by the letter A and includes a series of component parts which may be assembled together in various ways to provide a plurality of toys. In general, the toy A includes a pair of similar concave discs 10 including a generally fiat central portion 11 and arcuate peripheral walls 12. As indicated in the various cross sectional figures of the drawing, each of the discs 10 includes an integral sleeve 13 which projects inwardly from the concave surface of the disc portion 11, axially of the peripheral wall 12. The peripheral arcuate wall 12 of each disc is provided with a ring 14 encircling the wall near the free edge thereof. This ring 14 is made of magnetizable material and fits into a peripheral groove 15 in the exterior surface of the wall 12 or is held in place on the periphery of the wall in any other suitable manner.

Each toy A also includes as a component part a wheel which is indicated in general by the numeral 16. Each wheel 16 preferably includes a plastic hub portion 17 having opposed bosses or stub shafts 19 projecting from opposite surfaces thereof or extending axially of the hub. The outer periphery of each hub 19 is of proper dimensions to frictionallyfit into the end of one of the sleeves 13 of the disc 10. Each wheel is also shown as having a peripheral ring 20 of rubber or other suitable material. The purpose of this arrangement is to provide the appearance of an automobile tire of miniature size. Obviously, the tire portion 20 could be integral with the hub portion 17 if it were preferred.

An axial spindle 21 extends through the hub portion 17 and projects from the ends of the stub shaft 19. The spindle 21 is preferably provided with tapered surfaces 22, the ends of the spindle being generally frusto conical in shape. The spindle 21 is magnetized so that the spindle is drawn toward the rings of magnetizable material 14 when the wheel 16 is properly related to these rings 14. Alternatively, the spindle 21 may comprise a central 3 magnet having contacting pull pieces which project to form the frusto conical ends.

A third component part of the assembly comprises a spacer tube which is indicated in general by the numeral 23. This spacer tube 23 preferably comprises a hollow plastic tube having an outer diameter which will frictionally engage in one of the sleeves 13. A pair of peripheral flanges encircle the tubular body 24, the flanges being identified by the numeral 25. The flanges 25 are evenly spaced from the ends of the tube and are externally knurled so that they may be more readily assembled and disassembled. The ends of the tubular bodies are pref.- erably beveled as indicated at 26 to simplify the insertion of the ends into the sleeves 13.

The toy also includes a second spacer which is indicated in general by the numeral 27 and which is somewhat similar to the spacer 23 but is substantially shorter in'length. The spacer 27 includes a tubular body 29 which is of proper exterior diameter to fit into the sleeves 13 with a frictional fit. A pair of peripheral flanges 30 encircle the tubular body 29 at points equally spaced from the ends of the tubes. The ends of the tubular body 29 are preferably beveled as indicated at 31 and are longitudinally slotted as indicated at 32 to permit a slight compression of the tube as the tube is inserted into the sleeve 13.

The center portion of the tubular body 29 between the flanges 30 is provided with fillets 33 which act as a means of guiding a string or cord as it is wound on the central portion of the tubular body. An aperture 34 extends diametrically through the center of the tubular body at right angles to the axis thereof to serve as a means of anchoring the end of a cord to the spacer.

The toy also includes a pin 35 which tapers slightly from the relatively large diameter blunt end 36 to the opposite pointed end 37. The large diameter end incl-udes a substantially cylindrical end section extending to a point 39 from the blunt end, the remainder of the pin being of slightly smaller external diameter for a reason which will be later set forth.

The parts thus described are capable of a great many difierent assembly forms and different combinations of the elements described may form diiferent types of toys. When the toy A is not in use, it appears as in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. As indicated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, the wheel 16 form the means of attaching the two discs in edge abutting relation to form the closed container. In closing the container, it is only necessary to insert the stub shaft 19 on one side of the wheel into the inner end of the sleeve 13 of one of the discs 10, insert the various component parts 23, 27 and 35 into the container to encircle the wheel or to extend between the wheel and the disc, and then to insert the other or opposite stub shaft into the sleeve 13 of the second disc. The two discs are thus frictionally engaged and act as an enclosure for the remaining components.

In order to form a spinning top, the components are assembled as indicated in FIGURE 4. One of the discs acts as the body of the top. The spacer 27 is inserted into the inner end of the sleeve 13 of this disc to project upwardly from the concave surface thereof. The large diameter end 36 is frictionally engaged in an end of the other spacer 23 and this assembly is then inserted downwardly through the spacer 27. A portion of the large diameter end 36 of the pin frictionally engages in both spacers and holds the same connected with the pointed end 37 of the pins projecting below the convex surface of the disc pin.

When arranged in this manner, the spacers act as a spindle or axis which may be twisted between the fingers to cause the body to rotate. If desired, a cord may be inserted through the aperture 34 and wound about the central portion of the spacer 27 so that the top may be spun by loosely holding the upper spacer 23 while pulling on the cord to cause the device to spin.

Three of the component parts of the toy may be assembled together to form a toy similar to a Yo-Yo. One end of the spacer 2.7 is inserted into the sleeve 13 of each disc, a cord being attached to the central portion of the spindle, the cord being indicated by the numeral 40. The spacer 27 is of such length that when the sleeves 13 are against the flanges Bil, the peripheral edges of the two discs will be spaced a short distance apart to guide the string.

When the toy is to be usedas a magnetic wheel toy, the discs 10 are somewhat similarly assembled, employing the spacer 23 in place of the spacer 27. As the distance between the peripheral flanges 25 of the spacer 23 is greater than the distance between the flanges 3b of the spacer 27, the opposed peripheral edges of the disc 10 will be spaced a greater distance apart. This distance is slightly greater than the length of the hub portion 17 of the wheel 16, including the stub shaft 19, but is less than the length of the spindle 2} of the wheel. When the spindle 21 is positioned to bridge the space between the discs so that the tapered end 22 of the spindle are in contact with the rings 14 of magnetic material, the wheel 16 may roll in either direction within the gap between the disc. To facilitate the manipulation of the disc, the pin 35 is inserted with its large diameter end 36 frictionally engaged in one end of the spacer 23.

A more complicated wheeled toy may be formed by combining two of the toys A in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8 of the drawings. The component parts are assembled as indicated in FIGURE 6 of the drawings but with the pointed ends 37 of both of the pins 35 projecting in opposite directions from the same toy. The two units are assembled by threading the second unit over the pointed end of one of the pins so that the enlarged diameter end of this pin frictionally engages both of the units to hold them in side by side relation, as is in dicated in FIGURES 7 and 8 of the drawings.

Thus it will be noted that we have produced a toy consisting of a number of component parts which can be assembled into various assembled relationships to produce toys of different types. The toy can be produced at a relatively low cost, is entertaining and amusing to persons of various ages. When not in use, all of the parts are attached and contained so that there is little likelyhood of loss of the various parts. 7

In accordance with the patent statutes, we have described the principles of construction and operation of our improvement in amusement device, and while we have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, we desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. A toy including a pair of hollow similar concave discs of non-magnetic material having peripheral rims terminating on planes normal to the axes of the discs, sleeves extending axially from the concave sides of said discs and terminating short of said planes, a member having opposed ends frictionally engaged in said sleeves, shoulder means on said member limiting the insertion of said memher into said sleeves and holding said rims in parallel spaced relation, rings of magnetic material secured to said discs adjacent to said rims, a wheel of non-magnetic material, a hub projecting from opposite sides of said wheel, a shaft extending through said hub and projecting therefrom at both ends, said shaft being magnetized, said hub being slightly shorter than the distance between said rims and said shaft being longer than the distance between said rims, said shaft holding said wheel extending into the space between said rims by its magnetic attraction to said rings, and a handle projecting axially from one of said discs.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said hub is of substantially the same diameter as said ends of said member and the central portion of said wheel is of a thickness no greater than the distance between said sleeves when said rims are in contact, whereby when said member is detached, the ends of said wheel hub may be inserted in said sleeves to hold the rims in contact to form a closed receptacle.

3. The structure of claim 1 and in which the ends of said shaft projecting from said hub are tapered toward the ends thereof.

4. The structure of claim 1 and in which said member is tubular, and said handle is frictionally engaged in said member.

5. The structure of claim 4 and including a second pair of discs connected by a second member in a manner similar to the discs previously described, a second wheel similarly supported between the second pair of discs, and connecting means frictionally engaged in the said members of said first and second pairs of discs and holding the discs axially aligned.

References (Jitcd in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,005,853 Lewis Oct. 17, 1911 2,282,314 Houlihan May 12, 1942 2,629,202 Stivers et al Feb. 24, 1953 2,645,881 Frangos July 21, 1953 2,767,517 Hooper Oct. 23, 1956 2,818,680 Borsos Jan. 7, 1958 2,891,351 Madaras et al June 23, 1959 2,906,057 Sullivan Sept. 29, 1959 

1. A TOY INCLUDING A PAIR OF HOLLOW SIMILAR CONCAVE DISCS OF NON-MAGNETIC MATERIAL HAVING PERIPHERAL RIMS TERMINATING ON PLANES NORMAL TO THE AXES OF THE DISCS, SLEEVES EXTENDING AXIALLY FROM THE CONCAVE SIDES OF SAID DISCS AND TERMINATING SHORT OF SAID PLANES, A MEMBER HAVING OPPOSED ENDS FRICTIONALLY ENGAGED IN SAID SLEEVES, SHOULDER MEANS ON SAID MEMBER LIMITING THE INSERTION OF SAID MEMBER INTO SAID SLEEVES AND HOLDING SAID RIMS IN PARALLEL SPACED RELATION, RINGS OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL SECURED TO SAID 